I spotted Deccan Express in the morning with WCAM3 #21892. In the evening, while Returning, I spotted the following:Trivandrum-LTT Netravati Express - Erode WDM3A #14127Pragati Express (Towards Pune) - Unknown WCAM3Ratnagiri Passenger (Delayed!) - Unknown WDM3A in DCW liveryNandigram Express (Nanded bound) - Pune WDM3AThe day was quite tiring, and I have loads of works to finish for tomorrow! Am logging off for the moment....Wait::: The countdown for the last day at college has almost begun! Out Internal Examinations are beginning March 15th! The University's Final Practical Examinations begin on April 16th! Going by these dates, our college days would come to an end by around the first-second week of April...about 25-30 working daysssss more!

This Sunday was a real busy one! I had to attend a Classmate's sister's wedding at Junnar in the nearby Pune district. About 16 of us were all set to make the journey. Two vehicles full of maniacs from Mumbai were on our way to Junnar along the National Highway 222. We had charted out detailed plans and were now all set to make the journey! I left my home at 0640 on my 3 year old war horse - Toyota Qualis Myst MH04-BY-5241. The trusted horse made sure that I kept my commitments! My vehicle was to carry 8 of us, while the other was to carry another 8. But, what finally happened was that only 5 traveled in my car, while the other had a heavy 11 guys!Both the cars (the other was a Chevrolet Tavera Neo) met at Thane. We had decided a meeting place in Thane, and it was decided to that we meet each other and then move ahead!After the meet, My car took clear charge of the situation. We drove down National Highway 3 (Mumbai-Agra) upto Mankoli Naka (Near Bhiwandi). From there we took a…

aThe day was quite normal in the morning! I saw the Pune bound Deccan Express flashing through with WCG2 #20127 in charge. Off late, I have been noticing that this loco is almost regular with this train! Some minutes behind the Deccan Express was a WCAM3 tugging a dead sister towards the loco shed. While I reached Thane, WDP4 20030 was waiting there with the Madgaon bound Mandovi express. I took the ever familiar red monster to my college (a write up on MSRTC's Red-Monsters is on its way!!! stay tuned right here!)I reached back in Thane at around 1625 from college. The 1627 CSTM fast pulled into Platform 4. A light WDM2 of Kalyan rushed towards Kalyan, and our train got its starter with the Route indicator set to "left". We slowly crawled towards the main line, and the 12-coach EMU was now completely on the main line. The fun starts now: The PA system announced that the train on which I was travelling was expected to arrive soon on Platform 4! The train was already on th…

Yeah! It was a Friday today! A very normal Friday! I took the 0658 EMU from Belapur, and reached Kurla at around 0732. Deccan express went through with a WCG2 in charge. I took the 0741 Asangaon EMU from Kurla....Every thing normal!

It was a very boring day at college with verbal bombardment almost continuously for the first three hours from 0930 to 1230! It was a tiring, boring, sleepy day!

I boarded the 1603 EMU from Thane at 1640! The train was heavily late! Pragati Express had its usual WCAM3....

Today, and Yesterday were two other normal days! Back to college! I couldn't make an update yesterday since my internet connection failed!Yesterday: I took the 0730 Vashi Thane EMU from Sanpada since I got up too late to board my usual local(s). I spotted Mandovi Express with WDP4 #20036 waiting at Thane while I got down from the EMU. The rest of the day was quite normal!

Today: I jumped out of my bed a bit early due to the experience yesterday! I took the 0658 EMU from Belapur. I spotted Deccan Express with WCAM3 #21888 at Kurla, and the Latur-Mumbai Express with a Kalyan WDM2 (This link seems to have become regular!). I spotted Vidharbha express somewhere near Ghatkopar. This train has got new name plates!While returning, I spotted an unknown WCAM3 hauled train near Bhandup. From Mulund, a group of about 4 RPF officers got in, and they took seats near me. I was sitting as if they had arrested me, and I jumped out of the seat quite early before people around pass suspicious looks!…

Today was the day I went back to college after three long weeks (though I had attended college on one day in between!), it was more or less like a vacation! I rushed to catch the 0642 EMU in the morning, and luckily got into it! I reached kurla at around 0717 or so. Just as I was about to climb the Foot-Over-Bridge, I saw a WDG3A hauled train rushing towards Dadar. A few minutes after I reached Platform 6, the Dadar bound Chalukya Express went through with a regular WDM3A of Pune in Charge. Some minutes later, the CSTM bound Latur-Mumbai Tri-weekly express went through with a Kalyan WDM2 in charge. The Madgaon bound Mandovi Express rushed past at around 0724 with WDP4 #20031 in charge. My local (0724 Kasara 9-Car Fast) pulled in at around 0730. The train maintained good speed all the way upto Mulund. The train crawled through Mulund station, and surprisingly changed over to the slow line after Mulund!!! That was surprising for a fast EMU.The Madgaon bound Mandovi was still waiting at …

Pilgrimage 2007 has finally ended! The beautiful journey with a few "in-built" surprises ended yesterday in the evening. I was too tired to post about it, and decided to do it today!The down journey was by 2618 Hazrat Nizamuddin - Ernakulam Mangala Lakshadweep Express. We boarded the train at Panvel and alighted at Thrisur. The loco in charge was WDM2 #17583 of Ernakulam. She was a star performer! The loco smoked quite less, and had very good and clear beats! She had a very beautiful pickup, and did a good job with the 18-Coach load! My coach was WGACCN 01908 (AS1).The return journey was by 6346 Trivandrum - Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Netravati Express. We boarded the train at Thrisur, and alighted at Panvel. The loco in charge was WDM3A #14125 of Erode, and the coach was WGACCN 01146 (AS4). The train ran perfectly to schedule, and we reached Panvel at 1515, dot on schedule!I had a very short railfanning with Jimmy Jose of Ernakulam, and Antony Damacious of Bangalore at Ernakul…

Time for another journey! This time it is a Pilgrimage Journey to the Sabarimala temple in Kerala! I just had symptoms of an Asthma attack yesterday, Immediate visit to the doctor did the magic! So finally, I am leaving tomorrow for this journey!

I'll leave (tomorrow) by 2618 Mangala Lakshadweep Express, boarding at Panvel. I will be back on 18-Feb, Sunday on board the 6346 Netravati Express!

Eversince I heard of MSRTC introducing their newer fleet of buses - "Mahabus", I was trying to spot atleast one on the road. I saw them many times on the road, but could never photograph them. Today, I had some work and had gone to Vashi. While returning, I purposefully entered the highway to check if any Mahabuses were around. There were none. Dejected by that, I entered Palm Beach marg and started driving back to Belapur. Just as my car started moving out of a traffic signal, I noticed a Mahabus behind! That bus got held at the signal! I took the car a bit ahead, and waited for that bus to re-appear once again! There she is...(in the pic above!).

MSRTC, as a part of re-structuring their "luxury" segment, decided to take air conditioned buses on lease. Such buses are run under the name - "Mahabus". The Mahabus fleet of buses are run by MSRTC staff, and the corporation pays a rent to the owner of the vehicle. The fleet consists of King Long KL6113 buses, T…

After we finished all works at Ernakulam, We (myself and my dad) had to proceed to Coimbatore. We were to board our train towards Mumbai from there. The train was to depart at 0800, and hence we had to reach there by the previous night. Accordingly, My uncle called up the bus terminus and enquired the timings of bus services, and they said that there was one bus at 1630.We left home, and reached the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation Bus Terminus located near Ernakulam Railway Station at around 1615. I enquired at the enquiry counter, and they said that the bus hasn't come. Finally at around 1655 or so, we saw the bus going towards a fuel station. We boarded the bus at the fuel station.The bus - KL15 6170, Fleet number RT992 of Thiruvananthapuram Central Depot. The bus was working a Thiruvananthapuram - Coimbatore Inter-State Super Fast schedule. The bus appeared to be quite new, and had a BSII, "H" series Turbo-Charged engine of Hino mounted on an Ashok Leyland Cha…

The sort of service given by MSRTC to its Volvo passengers is quite unexpected. It is an example as to how an Government run corporation can handle challenges put forth by Private operators! Today, MSRTC (which is other wise known for its poor quality of services!) operates top-class Volvo Buses - branded as "Shivneri" - on the Dadar-Pune route with a frequency of about 30 minutes. The buses are available from 0630 to 2130 from either ends. The buses originate from Dadar (Asiad) Bus Terminus in Dadar (East), and terminates at Pune Railway Station Bus Terminus of MSRTC.The running time of these buses are 3 hours and 30 minutes, covering a distance of 152 kilometres. The buses have pickup points at Dadar, Chembur (Maitri Park) and Vashi (Highway Junction). In the return direction, the pick up points are Pune Railway Station, Pune University and Aundh. The fare for an end-to-end journey is Rs. 200 (for adults; Rs. 105 for Children under 12 yrs). There is no on-board conductor i…

That was a marvelous 5-day journey! I realised many of my dreams in this one single journey! Read on...The journey was covered in 5 buses, 2 trains, 2 cars and 1 auto rickshaw! The total distance covered was above 3000 kms, and the time taken was 5 days. Some points:Myself and My dad took an MSRTC Volvo from Dadar to Pune (MH 12 AR 9736). We reached Pune at 2200 on January 27, 2007.We took the 1097 Pune - Ernakulam Poorna Express from Pune. Our coach was WGACCN 01108 (AS2). The loco in charge was WDM3A #14093 from Pune.I could see the Dudhsagar Water falls in broad day light, and that was a beautiful sight indeed!We took a KSRTC Superfast bus (KL15 6170) from Ernakulam to Coimbatore.From Coimbatore, we boarded the 1014 Coimbatore - Lokmanya Tilak Express. The loco in charge was WDM3D #11101 of Erode from CBE to Bangalore. From Bangalore, WDP4 #20035 of Krishnarajapuram took charge.We alighted at Pune, and took an MSRTC Volvo (MH11 T 9231) from Pune to Belapur!Images from the trip can …